First Fifty Words Topic: Letter to my body

Dear Body,

My how you have changed.  I remember when running and dancing were just another fun thing to do for hours.  Now not only do you have to be in the mood, but I must stretch you, and warm you up – before and after!  I remember when we would pull all nighters just because we could.  And now just the thought of that makes you want to crawl in bed.  Do you remember how you got that scar on your left shin?  I do.  You slipped getting into a pool….I believe it was one of the most painful experiences you ever had.  Or what about that nice one on your stomach?  You just couldn’t contain that bloody appendix anymore.  You caused such an uproar on the inside that the doctor had to cut you open to take it out. 

You never really were taken care of, huh?  I did things to you that no one deserves.  For awhile there you rarely got any kind of food to give you energy and make you glow…. and when you did, I made you throw it all up.  I only wanted you to be skinny like the other girls.  But, eventually, together you and I got better.  I humbly apologize for hurting you that way.  Then there was the cutting and all that poison I put into you.  How naive young people are…how lost…. broken.  You now have scars that I put there for everyone to see.  Your ability to forgive such things, well, sometimes I just don’t understand.

I have allowed men to beat you and women to call you names.  You bare more scars than most that I know…a lot of which you hide on the inside.  But I am proud of you.  You carry each scar with pride…. a badge of honor.  You know that each scar has helped you become stronger, wiser, and more in tune with your self. You have a mighty, courageous heart that you wear on your sleeve.  You believe in yourself, even when I don’t. 

There are still days that I look in the mirror and don’t really like you.  You know this, yet you never show if this hurts you or not.  It’s almost as if you are teaching me to learn to love you.  I made you walk a total of six miles this week, and although you ached and were sore…. you loved every minute.  You loved taking each step, and with each lap around the track you seemed to get faster…. encouraged.  Excited that I had finally decided to take care of you the way I should have been doing.  Proud to take me to a better place.  You seemed to whisper to me, “See, I told you we can do this…you and me together…we can be and do anything….Especially when you treat me well.”

So, dear body, this is my vow, I will love you through thick and thin.  I will remind myself that I must treat you well for you to do what you need to do to take care of me.  And no matter how I am feeling that day about you… even if you fail me, I will look at you in the mirror and say these words…

You are a damn sexy woman.  You are beautiful.  And you are strong.  Go get ‘em girl!

Love,Your Keeper